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DOLE Prescribes Rules on the Certification of First Aiders and on the Accreditation of First Aid Training Providers

The Department of Labor and Employment (“DOLE”) issued Department Order No. 235 (“D.O. 235”) which provides Rules on the Certification of First Aiders and the Accreditation of First Aid Training Providers. This was made pursuant to Section 25 of Republic Act No. 11058 entitled “An Act Strengthening Compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Standards and Providing Penalties for Violation Thereof” and Department Order No. 198-18.

Certification of First Aiders

D.O. 235 provides for minimum certification training course based on the establishment’s employment size and risk level, as follows:

Training Courses	Employment Size	Risk Level
Emergency First Aid Training	Nine (9) and below	Low, Medium, and High
Occupational First Aid and Basic Life Support Training	Ten (10) to Fifty (50)	Low
Standard First Aid and Basic Life Support Training	Ten (10) to Fifty (50)	Medium and High
Standard First Aid and Basic Life Support Training	Fifty-one (51) and above	Low, Medium, and High

All first aid certificates have validity of three (3) years from the date of issuance. For the renewal thereof, it shall be required that the modules on the renewal training course be completed, and its renewal application be filed within sixty (60) days prior to its expiration. Pursuant to Department Order 198-18, the cost of the renewal shall be shouldered by the employer.

Accreditation of First Aid Training Providers

Accreditation requirements for First Aid Training Providers shall include the following:

Duly accomplished application form
Documents as required in the Manual of Procedures
Training curriculum with corresponding training hours, facilitator’s and participant’s manual on emergency, occupational, and standard first aid
Baseline application of first aid training provider shall be the four-day Standard First Aid Training Course with Basic Life Support.

Similarly, the Certificate of Accreditation granted to First Aid Training Providers shall be valid for three (3) years from the date of issuance and the renewal thereof shall also be filed within sixty (60) days before its expiration.

In case of inaction within thirty (30) working days from the submission of complete requirements for renewal, the validity of the Certificate of Accreditation shall be deemed extended until resolution of the application. It must be noted however that the automatic extension of the validity will not apply if it was filed less than thirty (30) working days before the expiration. In which case, its validity shall be suspended upon expiration but subject to automatic lifting upon the issuance of the new Certificate of Accreditation.